Inflatable boat

ABSTRACT

An inflatable boat is provided made up of inflatable side tubes, a connecting fabric floor, inflatable aft, midship and forward thwarts between and connecting the side tubes above the fabric floor and below the uppermost level of the inflated tubes, the thwarts when inflated constituting occupant seats, a fabric bow and member fabric stern member and optionally a removable hinged floorboard including stern and forward portions curved in a fore and aft direction together with a rigid transom connected to the stern floorboard. There are keel-like skegs provided for the stern and forward floorboard portion. In place of the side tubes, a single U-shaped inflatable tube can be utilized.

United States Patent Edwards 51 May 2,1972

[54] INFLATABLE BOAT [72] Inventor: David V. Edwards, Godalming, England [73] Assignee: .West Products Corp., Newark, NJ. I 221 Filed: May 28, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 41,248

521 U.S. C1. f. ..9/2 A.

[ [58] Field oiSearch ..9/2, 2 A, 11 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,370,069 2/1945 Patten ..9/2 3,416,171 12/1968 Hennebutte ..9/2

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 677,643 1/1964 Canada..; ..9/2 812,247 4/1959 Great Britain..., ..9/2

Primary ExaminerMilton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Carl A. Rutledge Attorney-Jacobs & Jacobs [5 7] ABSTRACT An inflatable boat is provided made up of inflatable side tubes, a connecting fabric floor, inflatable aft, midship and forward thwarts between and connecting the side tubes above the fabric floor. and below the uppermost level of the inflated tubes, the thwarts when inflated constituting occupant seats, a fabric bow and member fabric stern member and optionally a removable hinged floorboard including stern and forward portions curved in a fore and aft direction together with a rigid transom connected to the stern floorboard. There are keellike skegs provided for the stem and forward floorboard portion.

In place of the side tubes, asingle U-shaped inflatable tube can be utilized.

8 Claims 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 2 1912 SHEET 10F 2 I PATENTEDMAY 2 I972 SHEET 20F 2 lrfopnxs into a suitablecontainer or carrying bag. The boat when inflated has a boat profile in contrast to conventional inflatable boats which are essentially rafts although inflatable boats of boat-shape are known. The new inflatable boat of the present invention is made up of a pair of inflatable side tubes connected by a fabric floor and strengthened by transverse aft, midship and forward thwarts which extend between and connect the side tubes above the fabric floor but below the uppermost level of the tubes when inflated and said thwarts when inflated constitute occupant seats. There is a bow member extending across the bow of the boat and to which one end ofthe fabric floor is joined. There is also a fabric stern extending across the stern of the boat and a removable floorboard made up of stem and forward portions which are hinged together beneath the midship thwart. It is to be appreciated that the floorboard can be omitted. The forward floorboard terminates within a pocket below the forward thwart and the floorboard throughout its length has a curved shape in a fore and aft direction. The boat is completed by a rigid transom located at the stern of the boat and connected to the stern floorboard. Skegs are provided for the floorboards to provide a keel-like effect. The boat is readily inflatable in a very short period of time and is quite seaworthy. It can be used in connection with ships and aircraft and other conveyances where emergency boats may be required or the inflatable boat can be used for fishing, sports and recreation for which it is primarily intended.

A preferred embodiment of the new inflatable and foldable boat is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a boat according to the present invention in inflated condition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view on a somewhat enlarged scale of the hinged floorboard and stem transom removed from the boat;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view ofFlG. l; and

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

As will be seen from the drawings, there are a pair of laterally spaced side tubes 10 which are of suitable size and length depending on the dimensions and buoyancy of the boat which is desired. Each of these tubes is made of any suitable inflatable and collapsible material which is impervious or substantially impervious to water or which resists the passage of water through the material for an adequate period of time depending upon the circumstances for which the boat is intended but normally for a period of at least several hours or more or indefinitely if undamaged. Such materials are described in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,490,085. Each of the side tubes 10 is, of course, provided with a suitable valve, i.e., a one-way valved opening 11 for inflation or which can be operated for deflation which may be carried out by any known or suitable means such as a pressurized cylinder ofinert gas, a pump or in case of emergency can be inflated by blowing with mouth pressure. Between and connecting the side tubes 10 are aft, midship and forward thwarts l2, l3 and 14, respectively, and each of these thwarts is made of the same material as the side tubes 10 and each is provided with a similar valved opening or inlet 11, it being understood that while the thwarts transversely connect the side tubes 10, they are separated therefrom and are not in open communication therewith or continuations thereof in the sense that loss of air or gas pressure in the tubes would necessarily result in loss of gas or air pressure in the thwarts, thereby giving an improved buoyancy and safety factor. Along the floor of the boat and extending under the thwarts, as will be particularly apparent from FIGS. 1 and 4, there is a floorboard of a relatively stiff and rigid material of considerable strength and this is separately shown in FIG. 2 as being made up of a stern floorboard portion 16 and a forward floorboard portion 17 terminating in a pocket 17 below thwart 14, the two portions being hinged together transversely at 18 which is substantially beneath the midship thwart 13 for protective purposes and to prevent the hinged floorboard from folding at an undesired time. The floorboard sections, particularly the stern floorboard section, are

preferably composed of what is known as marine ply but may optionally be made of any other suitable material such as glass fiber reinforced synthetic plastic. The upper surfaces of the floorboard sections are preferably also provided with a nonslip configuration or material such as that known under the trademark Trakmark or alternatively the surfaces may be corrugated or provided with indentations or irregularities so as to reduce slippage when they are wet. The boat is also provided with a fabric bow member 19, which is not inflatable, which extends across the bow of the boat and to which one end of the floor is joined. In addition, there is a fabric stern member 20 which is stretched across the top of the tubes 10 forming a bow dodger, thereby providing the desired strength and resistance to distortion. It will further be observed that the rearmost portion of the floorboard is provided with a rigid upstanding transom 21 angularly attached as at 21 to floorboard l6 and which during use rests against the inside surface of the stern end of the boat and, in addition to improving rigidity and stability of the boat, lends itself to the installation of an outboard motor (not shown), although it is understood, as illustrated, that other or secondary means can be provided for propelling the boat, such as the oarlocks 22 which are mounted in fittings 23. The boat is also provided with apair of paddles or oars (not illustrated). The outboard motor or the oarlocks and oars or paddles constitute propelling means for the boat which is moreover provided on the outer circumference with a life-line 24 held at spaced intervals along the exterior of the boat, and terminating as shown in a rope or line painter 25 which may be used for towing purposes. The skegs 26 are provided on or in suitable relationship to the floorboards 16 and 17 and serve to provide a keel-like effect which not only assists in the movement of the boat on the water but which when the boat is beached protects the side tubes and a substantial portion of the floor against abrasion and puncture. It will be observed from FIG. 5 in particular that the inflated boat has a boat profile which not only aids in its manipulation on water or in stormy or windy conditions and facilitates its movements along the water but is in distinctive contrast to the mere raft-like blunt nature of many conventional inflatable boats which may be like boats but are often more like rafts and which suffer from the disadvantages of resistance to movement in the water and oftentimes complete deflation in case one portion of the raft is punctured. The boat of the present invention can after deflation and after removal of the floorboards and transom be compactly folded about its trans verse center line and can normally be kept when not in use in a relatively small container or carrying bar thereby normally occupying very little space and facilitating carrying and transporting. Likewise the hinged floorboards can be folded in half thereby also occupying relatively little space when not in use. If desired, as may be preferred, the boat can be deflated and without removal of the floorboard and transom can be folded in half so that upon opening the same for inflation and use, the substantially complete unit is quickly available. Due to the fact that the thwarts are set low, as shown, the buoyancy of the boat is maximized without making the side tubes of excessively large diameter. In general, the diameter of the tubes should be kept as small as possible, while still providing needed buoyancy, since this gives more internal width for a given external beam, reduces the amount of fabric required and reduces the time required to-inflate the boat. Buoyancy, as herein used, means the non-flooded buoyancy of the boat as a whole and not merely the air-inflated buoyancy, which is important only when the boat is filled with water. The boat may also be used without the rigid parts, if desired.

It is also to be appreciated that the floorboard may comprise more than two sections. In such cases adjacent sections are hinged or fastened in a manner such as to enable the floorboard to be sectionally folded. It is furthermore to be appreciated that in place of two inflatable side members an inflatable U-shaped tubular member may be used.

7 What is claimed is:

1. An inflatable foldable boat having a boat profile comprising two inflatable side tubes, a fabric floor between and connecting the side tubes, a plurality of inflatable thwarts extending between and connecting the side tubes above the fabric floor but below the uppermost level of the side tubes, said thwarts when inflated constituting occupant seats, afabric stern member extending across the stern of the boat and joined to the floor, a fabric bow member extending across the bow of the boatand being an extension of the floor, and a removable rigid floorboard assembly having an integrally mounted upstanding transom at the stern end, the floorboard and transom assembly being'held in place by pressure exerted between the thwarts and the fabric floor, the side edges of said floorboard assembly being held clearof and not in contactwith the side tubes.

2. An inflatable boat according to claim-l in which sai floor transom assembly is provided. with at least one transverse hingedly connected joint, the nearest joint to the transom being not less than a distance equalto one-quarter of the waterline length of the boat from the transom forward.

3. An inflatable boat as claimed in claim 1 in which said floor transom assembly is fitted with resilient skegs on its underside.

4..An inflatable boat as claimed. in claim 1 in which said floor transom assembly is curved in a fore and aft direction substantially throughout its length.

5. An inflatable foldable boat having a boat profile comprising a single U-shaped tube, the bottom of the U forming the bow of the boat and the legs of the U forming the two sides of the boat, a fabric floor between and connecting the two side portions of the tube, a plurality of inflatablethwarts extending between and connecting the side portions of the tube above the fabric floor, said thwarts when inflated constituting occupant seats, a fabric stern member extending across or near to the stern of the boat and joined to the floor, and a removable rigid floorboard assembly having an integrally mounted upstanding'transom at the stem end, the floorboard and transom assembly being held in place by pressure exerted between the thwarts and the fabric floor, the side edges of the floorboard assemblybeing held clear and out of contact with the inflated sides of the boat.

6. An inflatable boat according to claim 5 in which said floor transom assembly is provided with at least one transverse hingedly connected joint, the nearest joint to the transom being not less than a distance equal to one-quarter of the waterline length of the boat from the transom forward.

7. An inflatable boat according to claim 5 in which said floor transom assembly is fitted with resilient skegs on its .underside.

8. An inflatable boat according to claim 5 in which said floor transom assembly is curved in a fore and aft direction substantially throughout its length. 

1. An inflatable foldable boat having a boat profile comprising two inflatable side tubes, a fabric floor between and connecting the side tubes, a plurality of inflatable thwarts extending between and connecting the side tubes above the fabric floor but below the uppermost level of the side tubes, said thwarts when inflated constituting occupant seats, a fabric stern member extending across the stern of the boat and joined to the floor, a fabric bow member extending across the bow of the boat and being an extension of the floor, and a removable rigid floorboard assembly having an integrally mounted upstanding transom at the stern end, the floorboard and transom assembly being held in place by pressure exerted between the thwarts and the fabric floor, the side edges of said floorboard assembly being held clear of and not in contact with the side tubes.
 2. An inflatable boat according to claim 1 in which said floor transom assembly is provided with at least one transverse hingedly connected joint, the nearest joint to the transom being not less than a distance equal to one-quarter of the waterline length of the boat from the transom forward.
 3. An inflatable boat as claimed in claim 1 in which said floor transom assembly is fitted with resilient skegs on its underside.
 4. An inflatable boat as claimed in claim 1 in which said floor transom assembly is curved in a fore and aft direction substantially throughout its length.
 5. An inflatable foldable boat having a boat profile comprising a single U-shaped tube, the bottom of the U forming the bow of the boat and the legs of the U forming the two sides of the boat, a fabric floor between and connecting the two side portions of the tube, a plurality of inflatable thwarts extending between and connecting the side portions of the tube above the fabric floor, said thwarts when inflated constituting occupant seats, a fabric stern member extending across or near to the stern of the boat and joined to the floor, and a removable rigid floorboard assembly having an integrally mounted upstanding transom at the stern end, the floorboard and transom assembly being held in place by pressure exerted between the thwarts and the fabric floor, the side edges of the floorboard assembly being held clear and out of contact with the inflated sides of the boat.
 6. An inflatable boat according to claim 5 in which said floor transom assembly is provided with at least one transverse hingedly connected joint, the nearest joint to the transom being not less than a distance equal to one-quarter of the waterline length of the boat from the transom forward.
 7. An inflatable boat according to claim 5 in which said floor transom assembly is fitted with resilient skegs on its underside.
 8. An inflatable boat according to claim 5 in which said floor transom assembly is curved in a fore and aft direction substantially throughout its length. 